Engineers from BAE Systems and Leonardo UK have installed the first European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk2) radar, billed as the world’s most capable combat air radar, onto a Eurofighter Typhoon test and evaluation aircraft ahead of flight trials, the two companies announced on 17 January 2024.
The ECRS Mk2 radar, developed by Leonardo UK and integrated onto the Typhoon by BAE Systems, will fly from BAE’s flight testing facility in Warton, Lancashire, this year.
The system, which is also colloquially known as ‘Radar 2’, features an innovative multi-functional array (MFA) that can perform both traditional radar functions, such as search and targeting, as well as electronic warfare tasks. “This means that the Typhoon will be able to locate and deny use of an adversary’s radar with a powerful electronic jamming attack, while staying beyond the reach of threats,” the companies stated in a press release.
A prototype of the radar has been undergoing ground-based testing in a unique test facility at Warton in recent months before being fitted onto test and evaluation aircraft BS116.
Andy Holden, Radar Delivery Director for BAE Systems’ Air sector, was quoted as saying, “Equipping the aircraft with this prototype radar moves us a step closer to delivering new capability, which ensures Typhoon’s role as the backbone of combat air defence for decades to come.
“We expect that this year we will be flight testing the radar, which will allow us to validate the results of ground-based testing we have undertaken at our Integrated Test Facility (ITF): the only facility of its kind on the UK,” Holden added. “The ITF testing allowed us to ‘fly’ the radar for hundreds of hours without the need to put a jet in the air, ensuring our flight test programme is as efficient as possible and delivers what our customer needs.”
The radar will now undergo further integration work inside the Typhoon final assembly hangar at Warton in advance of flight testing.
Ross Wilson, Vice President of Engineering for Leonardo UK’s Radar and Advanced Targeting sector, was quoted as saying, “In parallel with the integration work on the prototype system as it approaches flight testing, the ECRS Mk2 production design has also been progressing apace.
“The radar’s processor, receiver, and antenna power supply and control units have all been re-engineered to further enhance the capacity, capability, and performance of the Mk2 system in alignment with the new antenna and electronic warfare capability,” said Wilson. “These production designs have all passed their critical design review phases, keeping the production programme on schedule.”
